In a rematch of the 2024 Olympic Gold final, the United States women's national team rolled past Brazil 2-0 on Saturday in an international friendly. Trinity Rodman opened her 2025 scoring account for the national team with a goal in the fifth minute of play that was assisted by Alyssa Thompson. From there, the USWNT wouldn't let up, peppering the Brazil net while Phallon Tullis-Joyce repelled anything that came her way during her USWNT debut.
As Emma Hayes looks to find her next number one, Tullis-Joyce has become the second oldest player to earn their first cap for the national team at 28 years, 168 days old but looked like she's no stranger to the shirt. At the opposite end of the age spectrum, 17-year-old Lily Yohannes entered in the second half of play, immediately drawing a penalty with her footwork that Lindsey Heaps wouldn't miss.
It's a match where the USWNT could've run up the score more if not for strong goalkeeping from Brazil but it was also a positive performance for Hayes and the team during the start of this international break without regulars like Naomi Girma. It will be a unique test facing this same Brazil side again on Tuesday but with Hayes looking to experiment with her squad, it's a good chance to see what they can do while rotating against the same opponent.
Avery Patterson also got her first senior cap coming off the bench to replace Emily Fox in defense as Hayes has was able to make entire line changes with the match out of sight by the 70th minute of play. Only six members of the squad didn't see the pitch against Brazil and they all could end up in the lineup on Tuesday to give everyone a chance to make a statement. This was Rodman's first match for the USWNT since the gold medal match versus Brazil and she couldn't have marked her return in a better way than by scoring a goal.
Thompson shined in front of her home fans in California but alongside her, Tullis-Joyce may have been the star of the show. Alyssa Naeher's retirement from international play has left a void between the sticks but Hayes could be one step closer to figuring out who the number one is after this performance.
Lindsay Heaps doubled the lead from he penalty spot after Lily Yohannes earned it soon after entering the match. Talk about an instant impact and the USWNT are off and flying now.
Given all the subs and fouls in this second half, it's not too surprising but it feels like the USWNT will be more likely to get another goal before Brazil's able to pull one of their own out.
She delivered quite a ball to Alyssa Thompson in the box and if not for Lorena Leite being strong in the box it could've been 3-0 to the USWNT. Thompson is one of a few players truly shining in this clash.
Brazil went forward right at the start of the half and Ludmila de Silva unleashed a wicked shot that crashed off the post. Phallon Tullis-Joyse wouldn't have had a chance if that was on target.
With it being a friendly, this is where Hayes could opt to go with changes early to get a look further down the roster after the strong first period of play.
It was a scrum in the box as the USWNT almost grabbed another goal before halftime. They may not have a second yet but it has been a strong performance in Los Angeles as every time that the USWNT goes forward, it feels like they'll score. Trinity Rodman did take a hard challenge to her back but it was something that she was able to get up from and continue on in the match.
Brazil has found ways to pin the USWNT back after they were pushing but with 10 minutes to gon until half, Brazil isn't doing enough to draw level.
It may have been a nervy start to things but the USWNT are imposing their will now as the match grows on. Macario's presence as the nune is something that Brazil can't cope with and Ally Sentnor has been there to follow up any chances that aren't cleared up by the defense. Another goal is coming this half.
It was a vintage run from Trinity Rodman as Brazil's defense got broken down by Alyssa Thompson and the United States will now go ahead only six minutes into the match. Technically, this was against the run of play because Bazil had chances, but it's clear that the USWNT are feeling it now.
It will be interesting to see how intense this match is in Los Angeles because while it is a friendly, it does have chances for members of the USWNT to earn regular roles.
Most two-game friendlies feature a stretch of adjustment during match one so there might be a similar period during this first meeting. Brazil has plenty of key players who play club in NWSL as well and are in the early phases of their season alongside their USWNT counterparts.
The familiarity could lead to another close encounter between the two teams but that doesn't mean there won't be goals as they figure each other out. Pick: USWNT 2, Brazil 1
It's a strong XI and one that will certainly challenge Brazil during the match.
USA Starters: 21-Phallon Tullis-Joyce; 23-Emily Fox, 4-Tara McKeown, 14-Emily Sonnett, 19-Crystal Dunn; 17-Sam Coffey, 10-Lindsey Heaps (Capt.), 9-Ally Sentnor, 2-Trinity Rodman, 20-Catarina Macario, 11-Alyssa Thompson
Available Subs: 3-Korbin Albert, 5-Alana Cook, 6-Emily Sams, 7-Ashley Hatch, 8-Jaedyn Shaw, 12-Gisele Thompson, 13-Avery Patterson, 15-Michelle Cooper, 16-Claire Hutton, 18-Mandy McGlynn, 22-Yazmeen Ryan, 24-Lily Yohannes
Expanded player pool: After two meetings in 2024 with titles on the line (2024 Gold Cup and Olympics) both sides meet again in an early spring setting. Less pressure in these games, but that doesn't mean that there are no objectives. Hayes and her staff are still in an evaluation process and will utilize the matches as an opportunity to get players meaningful minutes in key areas. While players will want to deliver a response to their failure to win the Shebelieves Cup.
Alyssa Thompson: The Angel City FC forward is off and flying during the opening weeks of the NWSL regular season. She leads her club in goals scored through three games (two) and is second on the team in chances created (five). Her ability to take on defenders and generate offense makes her a dangerous asset against Brazil.
"They match up one v one and they isolate everyone on the field to have numerical advantages [so] to be able to create space for our players will be really important to us. They're a great team and I feel like we're going to put our best foot forward to try and win and just continue to develop as a team," Thompson said on Brazil.
The 2024 Olympic Gold Medal Final: The two teams went head to head last summer during the 2024 Paris Games. It was a closely contested battle between old rivals at a high-stakes major international tournament. Forward Mal Swanson scored the game-winner for the USWNT early in the second half and Alyssa Naeher delivered some late-game heroics with crucial saves down the stretch to ensure the 1-0 score and the gold medal.
Quite the match is on the horizon as the United States women's national team will face Brazil in a rematch of the 2024 Olympic final. Emma Hayes is using this window as a chance to work new players in but that doesn't mean that they won't be concerned with the result of the clash because this is a team that wants to win every match that they're involved in.
